‘Legendary’ fun runner Neil Barnett dies during Ashgrove parkrun

Tributes are flowing for Australia’s most prolific parkrun “tourist”, who has died doing what he loved in Brisbane just short of his 500th event.

Australia’s most prolific parkrun “tourist”, Brisbane man Neil Barnett, has died doing what he loved best.

Mr Barnett, 59, collapsed while competing in the Ashgrove parkrun event on November 5.

Tributes are flowing for the dedicated and popular fun runner who clocked up an incredible 490 parkruns in 327 locations around Australia.

Parkrun enthusiast Neil Barnett died while participating in the Ashgrove event earlier this month.

“Neil’s remarkable results and achievements through his 10 years’ involvement with parkrun are truly inspiring,” Ashgrove parkrun posted on its Facebook page.

“We shall miss Neil and his trademark pose of the two thumbs up when catching up through a parkrun or running along the Kedron Brook …

“Neil’s milestone and challenge achievements are discussed in running circles as legendary.”

In a heartfelt Facebook post, running mate Neale Scott said Mr Barnett “lived for parkrun” and was aiming to complete his 500th event on New Year’s Day next year.

Mr Scott said his friend was “genuinely excited” at waking up each Saturday morning when the 5km community fun runs are held around the country, especially if he was running in a new location.

“He was always first to arrive at parkrun and (would) walk/jog part of the course for a warm-up,” Mr Scott recalled.

“Neil would spend time daily following other parkrunners’ achievements, monitoring new parkruns and investigating the possibility of completing any new run in Queensland, ACT, NT, Tasmania and Western Australia.

Neil Barnett was planning to celebrate his 500th parkrun in Perth on New Year’s Day.

“Perth was his favourite city and he had planned several trips with his wife between now and New Year’s Day to complete five WA parkruns culminating with his 500th on New Year’s Day.”

Mr Scott said he and Mr Barnett experienced many wonderful parkrun adventures, including competing in two runs on opposite sides of the country in 24 hours.

He said floods washed out their plans to do the Narromine Wetlands parkrun in western NSW together and he would now complete the run next year “in remembrance of my great parkrun friend Neil Barnett”.

Mr Barnett is survived by his wife Gail and children April, Marcus, Stacey and Luke.

Ashgrove parkrun said the family had given permission to post photos of him competing in his last parkrun before he died.